Imagine it. A 2.4 mile (3.86 km) swim, a 112 mile (180.25 km) bike ride and a 26.2 mile (42.2 km) run, raced in that order and without a break. That’s the Ironman Triathlon.
This past Sunday, the Ironman Canada race was held for the third time in Whistler, BC which is located just over an hour and a half from home. Having run a few marathons myself and done a handful of mini triathlons, the concept of running a full 26.2 miles after hours of swimming and biking is completely mind-boggling to me.
My daughter and I managed to catch snippets of last year’s race after we completed the nearby Singing Pass Trail hike with friends. I really wanted to see it in action, from start to finish this year.
As you can see in the photo below, the 2014 race day was perfect.
This year? Not so much. It poured from the 7:00 AM start to at least noon. Challenging conditions for the athletes, horrid for the spectators. With the race running from 7:00 AM to the 12:00 AM cutoff time, the lucky one who gets to watch a loved one race can be in for one hell of a wait. So how to survive?
Top 5 Ironman Spectator Survival Tips
1. Do Your Homework
Familiarize yourself with the race website. In our case it was the Ironman Canada website. (Enjoy the sunny lake photo complete with spectators cooling off in the lake … our experience was bone chillingly different). Do this consult days ahead of race day. You don’t want to be staggering about in your hotel room at 04:30 dripping from the shower, trying to figure out where and how to get to the swim site.
Know this: roads are closed during triathlons. You won’t be able to get around by car. So consider your options. As seen in the photo below, folks at Ironman Canada 2015 biked, ran and walked the 1.8 miles (3 km) to the lake.
Walking was a hoot. We overheard the most interesting comments with my particular favorite being that uttered by the cycling, sobbing six year-old girl.
“I want to go back to the ho-telllll!”
At 06:10. so did the majority of us, honey. Good call.
2. Plan Your Free Time
Off time? Yes! This is the delight of being a spectator. You get a break. Lots of them. With no vehicles allowed on the course, there will be plenty of “non contact” time with your athletes. Go and grab a bite to eat.
In addition to eating, plop those sopping, beyond heavy and uncomfortable clothes into the hotel dryer. We had to check out several different floors before we found an available dryer, but man was it worth it. The feeling returned to our fingers and toes within the hour.
3. Give Careful Consideration To Your Supportive Comments
How to best encourage your athlete? Support is the operative word here. While sparkly fairy wings, garish wigs and loud clanging cowbells will draw your triathloner’s attention, be ever so careful with your comments. Both on the hand painted signs and the verbal shoutouts front.
“You’re almost there!” is verboten. Never, ever let this phrase pass your lips unless the finish line is within inches. Yes, inches.
“Might as well keep going!” Excuse me? The goal of the shoutouts and those hard to read signs is to encourage your exhausted competitor, not deflate them.
“Looking good!” Not so much. They feel like shit and know they look even worse.
“You CAN do it!” Yes. Perfect comment. Strong. Positive. Affirming.
Also, the odd high-five to a stranger won’t be amiss either.
Some athletes might be self focussed and fly by, but others will reach out and thank you.
4. Hangout At Those Transition Stations
The transition station, where the athletes switch from swimming to biking and biking to running are wonderful spots for engaging with your triathlete. The secret to making this a success is to be there as they transition. So, you need to know your competitor’s expected times. How long will it take them to do the swim and how long will it take them to bike? Ask.
The transition experience is like no other. Not only will you encourage your athlete and give them much-needed support, you’ll be treated to an unexpected wealth of entertainment. From wetsuit stripper action to bike shoe handoff.
Here, the bikers run towards their dry running gear.
I do apologise for not getting a wetsuit stripper photo. Perhaps next year.
5. Wear Your Tidbit Fitbit
Think spectating is dull and merely couchpotato worthy? Think again. This Sunday, without knowing anyone in the race, I racked up a step count of 21,992 and a distance of 8.92 miles.
And, finally, who was the official winner of this year’s Ironman Canada?
Viktor Zyemtsev from Ukraine in a time of 08:49:46. Here, below my sad little cleverly added lime green lightning bolt, he is mere inches from finishing. I’d LOVE to chat with his spectators. Bet they’ve got some advice or six.
Enough about me and my top 5 Ironman Spectator Survival Tips. I’m curious about you. Have you any desire to do an Ironman? Better yet, have you watched a loved one do one? Any tips that I’ve forgotten? Or would you prefer to watch from the comfort of your couch with a cold one at hand? If you’d care to share, I’d love to hear.
28 Responses
My daughter in law has done several triathlons, including one Ironman. I’ve only seen snippets of one. However, the best time I’ve had supporting her came when she ran in the city’s Rock and Roll marathon. The race’s claim to fame is that they have a different band playing each mile of the race. Our family support team made it to three different ones.
Oh, Kathy, that is just so impressive that she’s done an Ironman. My daughter does small triathlons and maybe one day will aspire to an Ironman. We’ll see. You really need to see it to believe it, ‘eh? And I’ve heard only good things about the Rock and Roll runs. Seattle has one too and everyone says it is wonderful. Good on you to go out and support it. So great.
I’ve always wanted to watch one of those live. We watch it on TV every year. Those people amaze me with their endurance!
Oh Rena, it is so remarkable. Especially this Sunday. We kept overhearing the athletes say that the biking portion was the worst they’d ever done. It was so wet and cold. We’ve had nothing but excessively hot weather all summer long, indeed for weeks now, and then it pours on the day. So crazy. The winner added so much time simply because of the wet conditions. He finished around 3:00, wegot home at 6:00 PM and it was so odd to think that some of the athletes wouldn’t finish for another six hours.
Can you imagine the amount of endurance training they must go through?!? It makes me whimper just thinking about it.
My nephew told me last night that his friend, an Ironman afficionado, puts in 40 hours a week of training. This is in addition to his full time job. Whoa.
It sounds like being a spectator is a marathon in itself!! Great tips.
There really is nothing like it, Gina. I am in awe the entire time.
I loved being a spectator of the Boston Marathon and was in awe of every single one of the participants. I have a friend whose husband and son-in-law do triathlons and the young guy has completed a couple of Ironman competitions. Armed with these tips, I just might join in on the fun of watching the next one! Hope you have dried off and warmed up!
To do one Ironman is incredible, to do several? Outstanding. Wow. You should go and watch, Mo. There’s nothing like it.
I am in awe of those atheletes, they are amazing ! We watched the Ironman in Penticton a number of years ago, and couldn’t believe how they dealt with the heat. I know a woman who is my age who competes in all the Ironman triathalons, even qualifying for the Hawaii one. She used to be a chain smoking couch potato, then became this uber fit woman who rides her bike up Cypress for a warm up !!
I also went to a Penticton one too, Jane! That heat! Whoa. And I’ve biked Cypress. I’ll never forget it. I went with a woman who sounds like your pal. She had a 21 speed bike, I had a 10 speed. She’d patiently wait for me to puff up alongisde and then she took off! Quite something. I’ll never forget it.
So jealous of your right now, LOL! I need some inspiration! You gave it in spades!
Oh< Lisa it was a lot of fun. I have to say I'm glad I got those fitbit numbers as I was feeling rather blobby after an hour of spectating ...
OK, I admit so not a runner or even a big exercise person here and not even a spectator, but at the very least if I ever am, I am truly covered with your tips. So thank you for that 😉
If you can ever go and see a triathlon – mini or Ironman – I’d highly recommend it, Janine. It’s not only the athletes’ efforts but the surprising things, the unanticipated, that make it fun. We saw two swimmers surrender and get out of the water and a biker walking his bike with his wife alongside him. Have to admire their courage to give up rather than have something dreadful befall them.
Kelly , I didn’t even realize you could spectate at an Iron Man. I bet the athletes loved having your support – and what dedication to be out there in that weather ! I went on an hike the same day you did this – forgot to wear my “tidbit” because it has not been keeping time accurately – but the map said we covered the same distance.
So fun – same distance on the same day! Isn’t it annoying when you foget the tidbit? I can merrily water the plants and hanging baskets when I wake up. Takes me at least 15 minutes to do it all.Then I get onto the laundry and the dishes and the sorting etc. etc. Time zips by. And I’ve forgotten to put on the tidbit! SO annoying. Yes, Iron Man spectating is a hoot. So delightful to watch and then slip away to warm up and get a bite to eat. I have to say it felt really odd to drive the 2 1/2 hour ride home, eat dinner and then go to bed realizing that many athletes still had 2 more hours to put in.
I want to hear more about those three marathons!!
What a wonderful read this was. I felt like I was there. (But, oh, it does make our marathons seem short and easy in comparison.)
That’s exactly how I felt! The marathon (which always loomed large for me) was but a mere speck of these athletes’ efforts. I felt so odd driving back the 2 1/2 hours, tucking into a delicious dinner and then going to bed knowing that many of the athletes (who got up at 4:30 that morning) still had another two hours of running to do.
As always Kelly, you have me laughing out loud as I read your post. I have to confess a couple of years ago, I went to Vancouver to be a cheerleader for my niece who was running in a marathon. While we met her about half way to cheer her on, we then went out for breakfast. My sister and I made it back immediately AFTER my niece crossed the finish line! Bummer. I was so sad because I felt like I failed as her cheerleader. So now, I am obsessed with not leaving the site of a race!
Noooo….. Oh now that is something I might do. Arrive back on scene just after they cross the finish line. Golly. The Vancouver marathon was always under appreciated back in the day I was running them. So nice to hear you made the effort to come and watch. Good on you, Elda.
Shared this with my triathlon-loving relatives.
Thanks so much, Scott. Bet they could add a tip or six!
This is from my brother Shaun, who is the triathlon guy…
“I’ll add in that fist bumps don’t work out so well in triathlons. If you’d like to see a much shorter triathlon, come to the Hopkins Royal Triathlon on September 5th. Agree that spectating can be a lot of work. I’m usually pretty exhausted from volunteering at races.”
Grinning over the “… fist bumps don’t work out so well in triathlons …”
Well, my crazy son wants to do one of these, so I suspect I will be spectating at some point. How fun to go watch – and in Whistler, no less. One of my favorite places!
Oh, Lana. He simply must do Whistler. It is a wonderful course (even when it’s raining) and the spirit is amazing. I’d love to meet you. SO nudge him in that direction, won’t you?